Abstract
The efficacy of the facial nerve decompression was investigated in 21 surgical cases and 143 nonsurgical cases. Having used retro auricular transmastoid approach for decompression, we did not open the internal ear canal. Results are summarized as follows.
Electroneurography was the most useful in determining the indication of the operation. When degeneration of fibers of the facial nerve was estimated at more than 95%(less than 5% in electroneurography), operation had to be considered.
Recovery of surgical cases was better than that of nonsurgical cases, whose prognosis had been considered to be as poor as the former before the treatment. From the standpoint of the timing of operation, the earlier the decompression operation was carried out, the better the recovery was.
Authors propose that otologists decide the indication of operation at least within 3 weeks, preferably 2 weeks after the onset of palsy when the prognosis is considered to be poor.
